Bellevue Estate 1953 Heritage Pinotage 2021

Bellevue Estate "1953 Heritage" Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2021

Grape: 100% Pinotage, old vines, oak matured

Producer Tasting Note:

The scent of rosewater adds to the enchantment of bright raspberry, strawberry, maraschino cherry and pomegranate flavours, with dark plum and earthy beetroot notes too.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"Mocha, figs, dried herbs, sour cherries and hints of tamarind on the nose of this juicy, mellow red. It’s full-bodied, ripe and tasty with sweet-savory undertones and fleshy tannins. Drink now."

92/100 points, James Suckling, August 2025

Also awarded 97 points, Greg Sherwood MW Tasting 2025, and 5 Stars, Platter's S.A. Guide 2025

A special wine with a profound sense of place from one of the oldest commercial Pinotage vineyards in the world, planted in 1953. Potential to age for upwards of ten years.

Estate: Planted in 1953 by P.K. Morkel, the second oldest vineyard block on Bellevue lies on a cool southern slope with Cartreff soil and is supported by drip irrigation. Covering 1.85 hectares, this low-yielding vineyard is registered as a single vineyard.

Winemaking: The grapes were cold soaked for three days before inoculation. During alcoholic fermentation there were three aerated pump-overs daily. After fermentation, the wine was racked off the lees, the skins pressed and the wine allowed to settle, before being transferred into 300-litre French oak barrels (50% new, 50% second fill). Spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place in barrel, where the wine matured for a total of 22 months.

Food Match: Meat dishes including Moussaka, steak, lamb goulash, or vegetarian mushroom risotto